Building brace



BUILDING BRACE Dec. 31 1929.

Filed N 8 1927 \.w\ M o 0 w A o (IV INVENTOR fink/0N0 Mwss.

A TTOR/VEY Patented Dec. 31, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RAYMOND ;MENES,.OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

BUILDING anca Application filed November 8, 1927. Serial No. 231,949.

This invention relates to braces and in particular to a type especially adapted for plumbers and electricians, when running their pipes and wires up between the studs would invariablyrknock these stud bracing blocks out and thereby weaken the studs and conse quently weaken the entire wall structure, which resulted in an unevenness of expansion of the stud andconsequent cracking of the plaster. i A further object oftheinvention is to provide astud brace'which may be secured in place between the studs with a minimum of time and effort and which permits the passage of pipes between the studs without the removal of the brace, it being of course also understood that the brace provides room between the adjacent laths for a good nio-rtor bond which is necessary in-the wall construction.

To enable others skilled in the art to fully comprehend the underlying features of my invention that they may embody the same in the various modificationsin structure and relation contemplated a drawing depicting a preferred form has been annexed as a part of this disclosure and in such drawing, similar reference characters denote correspond.

ed between adjacent laths'for a bond of the mortar which forms the plaster base.

Figure 3 is a view in front elevation of a lath and stud construction in combination with which is employed a different type of stud brace, and

Figure 4a is a section taken on the line 4-9l of Figure 3 showing how the studbrace is secured in position between the studs.

Figure '5 is a view in sectional elevation of a brace of a different type, the body of which is depressed relatively to the stud engagingprojection thereof so that the mortar can pass under the lath to form a bond.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5 and illustrating the shape of one end of the stud brace. Figure? is a view in perspective of the stud brace illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, the offset stud engaging portions thereof being clearly illustrated.

Referring to the drawingsin detail, 5 indicates the studs used in building construction to form walls, the same being spaced a-part and arranged to receivethe'laths (3 over which the motor is spread preparatory to plastering. These laths, of course, are secured to the studs by suitable nails and are spaced apart sothat a mortar bond can'be formed between them. Heretofore in the building operation,

the studshave been spaced and supported'by In order to. overcome this objection I have 0 provided a brace member indicated by the numeral 7 consisting of a central body portion 8 and end eXtensionsQ,theextensions 9 'being formed by splitting the ends of the body Sand arranging the ends 9 to rest iagainststhe faceofthestud, while the turn down portions 10 of the body 8 are arranged to fit alongside the stud and to be nailed thereto as at 11. It is of courseunderstood that nails 12 may be employed to hold the brace 7 in position against the face of the stud.

It is quite evident that a brace made of metal and of substantial construction will not only take the place of the wooden blocks heretofore used, but will eliminate the necessity of removing the blocks when pipes or wires are to be run up between the studs as my improved brace allows room for the pipes or wires and does not in any manner weaken the structure of the wall.

In order to form a bond between the laths 6 in those portions of the laths which lie adjacent the brace 7, I have bent the body 8 of the brace at an angle to the ends 9, as indi cated by the numeral 13 in Figure 2 so that a space 14 is left between the edge of the lath and the bent body 8 of the brace, this space providing a bond for the mortar 15, which is applied over the laths.

In the event that a brace is desired where the body portion is not bent, I have provided a modified form indicated by the numeral 16 in Figure 3 and whose ends are split to provide the end portions 17 and 18, the latter of which are turned down alongside the stud and nailed thereto as indicated at 19, it of course being understood that the extensions 17 are also nailed to the face of the stud to maintain the brace 16 in place. This brace is provided longitudinally with perforations 20 through which the mortar may exude to form a bondbetween the laths. In this type of construction, the laths 21 would be nailed to the studs 5 in substantially staggered relation and the brace 16 would not interfere in any respect with the placing of the laths.

I have shown in Figures 5 and 6, a still further modified form of brace consisting of a body member 22, split at its ends to provide the extensions 23 and 24, the latter of which extends alongside the stud 5 and is secured thereto in the usual manner while the extension 23 rests against the face of the stud and through the medium of the nail 25 is secured to the stud. In this instance, the body 22 of the brace is so bent that it is offset inwardly from the plane of the face of the stud and consequent y,' when the laths are placed against the face of the stud an opening is left between the body port-ion 22 of the brace and the edge of the lath, indicated by the numeral 26 so that a mortar bond 27 is provided.

Further forms of my bracing device are illustrated in Figure 7, in which the body portion 28 is split at its end to provide the stud engaging members 29 and 30 which embrace the stud at opposite sides and through the medium of the openings 31, are secured to the stud. This construction is particularly adapted for studs forming room partitions. In this instance also, the body of the brace is in a plane slightly offset inwardly from the plane of the faces of the studs consequently, the space between the lath and adjacent the brace, provides a bond for the mortar.

It is quite evident, therefore, that I have provided a brace adaptable for use between the studs in a building construction and so arranged that they will not interfere with the passage of pipes or wires between the studs.

It is also evident that the braces, being made of metal or other suitable material of a substantial nature, will greatly reinforce the studs and give added strength to the structure.

It is evident that the use of the braces does not interfere with the bond of the mortar bctween the laths and the bracing being of a substantial nature, will prevent undue movement of the stud and consequently reduce to a minimum cracking of the plaster.

It is also evident that my improved brace can be used in its many forms under various conditions and withoutin any way interfer ing with the placing of the laths on the studs, the braces being so constructed that they will not interfere with the building codes or the materials of construction prescribed thereby.

While I have illustrated and described my invention with some degree of particularity, I realize that in practice various alterations therein may be made. .I therefore reserve the right and privilege of changing the form of the details of construction or otherwise altering the arrangement of the correlated parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is A brace for wooden building studs to which wooden laths are to be secured con'iprising a brace bar having portions at one end for individually engaging difi'erent faces of the wooden studs against which the said end of the bar is disposed and constituting means through which fastening elements may be driven to secure the ends of the bar to the studs, between wooden laths, and said bar being inwardly offset with respect to some of said stud engaging portions whereby a mortar anchor is provided by the brace with respect to adjacent wooden laths.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

RAYMOND hIENES. [Ls] 

